Arlington Science Focus School PTA

Wednesday, August 16th 2023

• Thursday, August 24th: Kindergarten Open House, 9 -10:00am
• Thursday, August 24th: Open House (1st-5th Grade), 3-4:00pm
• Monday, August 28th: First Day of School
• Friday, September 1st: NO SCHOOL 
• Monday, September 4th: NO SCHOOL (Labor Day)
• Tuesday, September 5th: PTA Meeting, (7-8pm ASFS Library & Virtual option)
• Wednesday, September 6th: Back To School Night (7 pm)
• Sunday, September 10th: Back to School Picnic, ASFS, 4-6pm.
• Tuesday, September 12th: School Picture Day 

Please visit the ASFS Master Calendar for all 2023-24 school year dates.

Welcome ASFS Families to the 2023-2024 school year!

Here are some important reminders for the new school year:

• Classroom assignments will be available ONLY on ParentVue. No assignments will be sent in the mail. If you need help logging into your ParentVue account, please contact Stacia Griffin: [email protected]
  



• The first day of school is this coming Monday (August 28th)!
  

• ASFS Open House and Kindergarten Orientations are today/tomorrow (see announcement below)! Hope to see you there!
  

• There are grade level playdates (see announcement below) all this week -- come see old friends and meet some new ones!
  

• Please Opt-In to the PTA Directory through ParentVue. It allows room parents and other ASFS families to contact you throughout the school year. 
  
• How-To: 1) In ParentVue click 'student info' tab. 2) Under 'PTA Directory Participation' Select 'Yes, Please provide my student/family information' 
  
• Questions? Contact Stacia Griffin in the front office ([email protected])
  

• Still need SCHOOL SUPPLIES? If so, check out the grade level lists here!

First Day of School is Monday, August 28th!

• The first day of school is around the corner and we can't wait to see you! The PTA will have a fun photo area set up on the blacktop to capture a quick 1st day of school photo! Make sure to stop by before finding your student's classroom teacher! 

• Parents, as your children head into school, please join the PTA Board & Welcome Committee for Compass coffee and treats at the picnic benches in front of the school. We hope to see you there!

ASFS Open House and Kindergarten Orientation

Come see your classroom, meet your teacher and purchase ASFS merch! Classroom assignments will be listed in ParentVue. See you there!

KINDERGARTEN families: you have 2 opportunities next week to meet your teacher and see your classroom. ASFS Kindergarten students welcome to attend with their parents; we respectfully ask that siblings not attend. Please join us, along with your Kindergarten student(s), on:

Wednesday, 8/23 (9-10:30am) for the Kindergarten Orientation which will include activities, almost like a mini-day 

AND/OR 

Thursday 8/24 (9-10am) for the Kindergarten Open House, a drop-in hour with no structured activities.

1st-5th Grades: please join us for an Open House, Thursday, August 24, 3-4pm

ASFS students welcome to attend with their parents

GRADE LEVEL PLAYDATES!

Back to School Playdates: Hope you can attend summer grade-level playdates for a chance to see old friends and meet new ones! Click on Each Grade Level to open flyer for more information!

Rising 1st Grade Playdates: August 24th

Rising 2nd Grade Playdates: August 24th

Rising 3rd Grade Playdates: August 24th

Rising 5th Grade Playdate: August 24th

JOIN THE PTA!



Join the ASFS PTA to support our school and be able to vote on all ASFS PTA business matters. ASFS PTA dues: $10 per member, $20 per family

Join Online Here!

Memberships must be renewed each school year.

PTA Membership sponsorships are available so that all ASFS community members may participate in the PTA.

Volunteer with the PTA!



Please consider volunteering to help on one of the many committees. We have something for everyone and couldn't have this much fun without LOTS of help. Take a moment to fill out this VOLUNTEER FORM to let us know what you're interested in!

Read about Committee Descriptions Here!

Volunteer Application Required



• Volunteer Application Link - to ensure the safety of students, staff and visitors, all volunteers must be approved through APS. Please be sure to fill out the application prior to volunteering. Once approved, your application is good for three years.
  
• In addition, Arlington Public Schools requires all parent visitors to be registered with their drivers' licenses in our security system. Please stop by the office to have your license scanned - it takes no more than 90 seconds. 
  
• If you have questions, please contact the office at 703-228-7670 or Email Stacia Griffin at [email protected].

Show Your ASFS Lightning Pride!

Get your ASFS Merch Here!

New designs for the '23-'24 School Year! Order now to get items just in time for the beginning of the school year!



*T-shirts *Sweatshirts *Shorts *Tank Tops

*Long Sleeve Shirts *Water Bottles *Hats *Backpacks

After-School Enrichment Programs: Fall Baroody classes are coming!

Many of you have asked and the details are coming this month! A variety of classes will be available through Baroody, (art, chess, sports, STEM), and will run early October - end November. Stay tuned!

Berlitz Before School Spanish Enrichment: Registration now Open!

Is your child interested in learning a new language? Now is the perfect time! Berlitz is back and offering Beginner Spanish for Grades K-2 and Grades 3-5! 

• Classes start September 11th or 12th; 2 days a week, 7:45-8:35am
• Registration Closes August 31! 
• Please register early as class size is limited.

Join the ASFS Cub Scout Troop!

Calling all boys and girls! Kindergarten - 5th Grade. Join us and learn more on Sept 11, 2023 at 7:00 pm at Cherrydale United Methodist Church

RSVP: www.pack149-Arlington.com/ASFS

Camping! Hiking! Woodworking! STEM! Archery! Rock climbing! Kayaking! Adventure on!

Save the Date: ASFS Grade Level Coffees

The ASFS PTA is happy to host in-person grade-level parent coffees this year. Parents are invited to discuss grade level information and talk as a grade level parent group at these coffee chats. 



• Tuesday, September 26th: Kindergarten, 9:00-9:45am
  
• Wednesday, September 27th: 1st Grade, 9:00-9:45am
  
• Monday, October 2nd: 2nd/3rd Grade, 9:00-9:45am
  
• Tuesday, October 3rd: 4th/5th Grade, 9:00-9:45am

ASFS Girl Scouts Troops Are Forming

APS News

• ParentSquare: This year APS is moving from SchoolTalk to ParentSquare for family communication. We would love all parents to sign-up for the ParentSquare App. APS has contacted families with more information. Learn more here 

• APS School Year Calendar Policy Feedback: Only 2 days left to have your voice heard! The last day to provide feedback is tomorrow, Thursday, AUGUST 24th
• The Proposed School Year Calendar Policy has been updated based on the feedback received from the community during the 30-day public comment period this past April. It will be presented as an information item at the School Board Meeting on Aug. 17, 2023, and the School Board is scheduled to vote on the final version of the policy on Sept. 7, 2023. The community is encouraged to review the proposed policy and provide feedback before the School Board votes on it.
• Participate in the Proposed School Year Calendar Policy ThoughtExchange until August 24 to provide feedback on the policy before the School Board votes on the final version of the policy. 
• For additional information or questions, please email [email protected]. 

We love to hear from you! Please reach out to Heather McDougle ([email protected]) with any feedback or questions.

The ASFS PTA Electric News (EN) is a weekly newsletter that informs the ASFS community about school, PTA, and relevant APS and community news. Please send any newsletter submissions to [email protected] by noon on Monday for inclusion in Wednesday's EN.